Shaft coupling



Nov. 24" 1925. 1,562,437

C. F. CLAPHAM- \SHAFT COUPLING Filed March 24, 1923 V I wmmtozv T E5515: *R -F5.3.CL '\oHAM Patented Nov. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES rATENr CHARLES F. CLAPHAM, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD .lO HIRAM S. MILLER, OF BALTIMORE. IVIARYLAND.

SHAFT COUPLING.

Application filer! March 2 1', 1923. Serial No. 62?,269.

To all whom-it may concern:

Be it known that CHAnLns F. CLAPI-IAMI, a subject of the King of England, residing at Baltimore city and State of Maryland, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shaft Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates'to certain new and useful improvements in a flexible coupling for shafts, and has for its particular object a coupling whereby two shafts may he yieldably connected together so as to permit movement of the shafts in all directions relative to one another.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a coupling capable of being secured to the opposed ends of shafts so as to permit the shafts to be moved out of alignment with one another and have movements in all directions relative to one another.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a coupling having flexible means constituting cantilever beams which permit when the coupling is connected to the opposed ends of the shafts a relative, resilient movement of the shafts in all directions with relation to each other.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a flexible coupling, yieldably connected to the opposed ends of the shafts, whereby said shafts may have relative resilient movements to each other in all directions.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, pointed out in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a front elevational View of my coupling as made in accordance with. this invention,

Figure 2 is a transverse, limgitudii'n'il, sectional view taken through my coupling,

Figure 1; is a frontelevational view of a uiodilicd form of my flexible coupling, and

Figure l is a t 'ansverse, longitudinal, sec-- tional view of the modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates an annular disc or flange which constitutes the rear wall of the hub of my flexible coupling, and for 'ued from the peripheral edge of this disc or flange is a right angle extending aiinnlar flange ii which is divided to provide resilient ovm-l'ianging beam portions 7.

The overhanging beam portions "Z are de lined in the flange 6 by cutting out poi tions 8 thereof, so as to give lliel'lai'lge (3 a. relatively resilient action due (to the i'lcxure of the material from which the flange (3 formed. '7

It is to be understood that the hub of the flexible coupling, together with the flai'ige thereof, is stamped from a blank in a single operation and the disc 5 thereof is provided centrally with a boss 9 having a central opening in which is secured a shaft 10.

The shaft 10 is connected in the opening of the boss 9 in such a manner that upon rotation of the shaft the flexible coupling will consequently rotate therewith.

Connected adjacent the outer ends of the cantilever beams 7, are swiveled links 11, which are swivelly connected thereto as at 12, and have pivotally connected to their lower ends, the connecting links 12.

The free ends of the connecting links 12 are pivotally secured by suitable fastening means 13, such as belts or the like, to a crosshead 14, which crosshead is keyed to one end of a shaft 15 which is in direct alignn'lent with the opposing connected end of the shaft 1 It is apparentthat when the shaft con nected to the crosshead is moved longitude nally to a position on either side of the central position of the connecting links, or if the shafts are running out of alignment, that the flexure in the cantilever beams 7 and movement of the swivelly and pivotally connecting links 11 and 12 will permit of sufficient radial swinging movement to compensate for the position assumed by the shafts as described.

It is evident that the coupling when made as shown in Figures 1. andv 2, together with the swivelly connected links l1 audit), pro-- vides a flexible, yieldable coupling which permits of movement of the shafts in all di rections relative to one another, due to the resilient action of the cantilever beams '7 and connection of the links 11 and 12 to the crosshead 14.

Referring to the modification shown in Figures 3 and a, I have provided. the same coupling member 5, which has an annular right angular flange 6, which flange is divided to provide cantilever beams 7", which cantilever beams are defined by slots 8 formed in the flange 6.

The flange 6" of the modified form is pro;- vided centrally with a boss 9" having a central opening in which is fixed a shaft- 10 identical with the construction of the preferred forms shown in Figures 1 and Swivelly connected to the outer ends of the cantilever portions '5 are suitable blades It"), which blades are sn'ivell v connected at 17, to the outer ends of the cantilever beams 7. These blades 16 are s aired to a cross-head. 18, which crosslicad is used to a second shaft 19.

The blades 16 are constructed of such inaterial as to pern'iit a fiexurc in all directions, so as to compensate for the increment of the shaft 19 and shaft 1U in conjunction with the cantilever beams 7, in all directions.

Having thus described my invention What I claim as new is:

A coupling of the class describe-d, comprising a disc having its peripheral edge bent to provide a right angle flange, said flange being divided to provide resilient beam portions, a shaft secured to said disc, flexible means pivotally connected to said beams, a second shaft, a crosshead connected to one end of said second shaft and means flexibly connecting the second shaft or" the crosshead to said flexible means, said (01% nection aligning said second shaft with said first shaft and permitting relative H10 n' ent- (it said shafts out oi alignment with one another.

In testimony whereof he hereunto afiixes his signature.

CHARLES F. CLAPHAM- 

